Metal construction element



March 19, 1963 s. E. HUBBARD 3,081,850

METAL CONSTRUCTION ELEMENT Original Filed March 17, 1961 INVENTOK S EUGENE HUB/BAFD ,4 TTORNE YS.

Patenten nimte, rees f. ICC

6 Claims. (Cl. 18g-34) The present invention relates to building construction elements and more particularly to a new `and improved elongated extruded metal construction element of low cost construction which may be used for many different structural purposes in fabricating building and window frames and `wal-ls. This application is a division `of copending application Serial No. 96,435, filed March 17, 1961, and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved extiudedme-tal construction element of low cost construction which may be used for a number of diferent purposes `and which has a high degree of versatility.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved extruded metal construction element.

et another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved extruded metal construction element having a high degree of versatility and compatible with other components of the building wall.

The invention, together 'with objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the iollowing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. l is a cross-sectional view of a mullion embodying an elongated extruded metal construction element characterized `by the yfeatures of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional isometric View of the improved metal construction element according to the present invention.

Briefly, in accordance with the present invention the improved metal construction element is provided with a face portion and a main web portion normal to the face portion. The tip or end of the main web portion forms an elongated tongue for interlocking cooperation with ano-ther construction element. An L-shaped auxiliary web portion is provided with a yshort leg extending integrally from the main web and a long leg extending outwardly relative to the face portion and parallel to and spaced from the main web portion. Parts integrally connected to the ends of the adjacent legs dene grooves for receiving annular element securing means therewithin. The main web may be provided with a longitudinally extending drain channel -to provide for horizontal use of the metal construction element. The metal construction element may be integrally extruded from any suitable material such as aluminum.

Referring now to the drawing, and particularly to FiG. l thereof, there is illustrated a framing member or mullion shown generally at 26 and including a metal construction element 22 according to the present invention interlocked in snapped-in relation with another metal construction element 2dof suitable design, as more fully described .in the aforementioned copending application, to form a pair of oppositely disposed panel receiving openings 26 and 28. The construction element 22 is adapted to be secured to the building and is hereinafter referred to as the gutter construction element, ywhile the construction element 24S is adapted to be snapped together with the gutter construction element 22 securely holding the edge of .a glass or panel securely positioned in place and is hereinafter referred to as the face construction element. A pair of panels 3d and 32 which may be glazing, such as glass or other desired panel material, is disposed inthe respective openings 26 and 28. The panels 30 and 32 have their adjacent edges within the openings in aligned spaced apart relation. The metal construction elements 22 and 24 are secured laterally together by a clip member 34 clinched to the gutter construction element 22.

In order to form the panel receiving openings 26 and 28, each of the construction elements 22 and 24 are of generally U-shaped cross section, each having a bight or faced portions 36 and 38, respectively, and a pair of end legs 40, 42 and 44, 46, respectively. The end legs d@ and fifi. and the end legs 42 and 46 are aligned and spaced laterally apart to form the panel receiving openings 26 and 28. The face or bight portions 36 and 38 of the metal construction elements 22 and 24 may be of any desired extrudable shape; as illustrated, the face portion 36 is of hollow rectangular shape having sides 36a, 36b, 36C and 36d.

In order to provide for sealing of the panels 3d and 32 against the leakage of rain, water, and the like, each of the legs 4l), 42 and 44.-, i6 is provided with a gasket receiving channel or groove Si), each formed of an L- shaped or angle-shaped member 52 having one arm 52a thereof (FIG. 2) integrally joined to the respective end legs liti, 42 spaced slightly inwardly from the end thereof and substantially normal therewith. Another of the arms 52b is spaced apart and parallel to its associated end leg 4l) or 42 with the end of the arms 52h and the end of its associated end leg 40 and 42 being aligned in a transverse plane with respect to the construction element 22 .to thereby form the longitudinally extending groove 50 for the reception of a gasket or sealing member Sli. Moreover, each of the grooves St) may contain an inwardly extending bead 5d on the inner edge of lthe end of its legs and arms to aid in the retention of the gasket 5d..

Although the gasket 54 may have any of a plurality of desirable configurations, -as more fully described in the aforementioned copending application, the sealing gaskets 54 on both sides of the panels 36 and 32 are identical and are adapted to extend in their respective channels 5l). Each of the gaskets 54 is of generally arcuate `or moonshaped cross section adapted to engage a surface of a panel at its edges and additionally each of the gaskets S4 is provided with a web portion of generally hook shape adapted to be assembled in the channels Sil. Although the web portions are asymmetrical in appearance, they are symmetrical in use, i.e., the hook of the webs may be turned in either direction. Since the construction elements 22 and 24 are assembled by lateral movement relative to each other, the gaskets 54 are normally preinstalled in the channel 5@ prior to the assembly of the sections 22 and 2d `and the panels 3G and 32. Of course, it will be appreciated that gaskets of various other congurations may be used as more fully described in the aforementioned copending application.

In order to provide for separation of the construction elements 22 and 24 at the panel receiving openings 26 and 28 in the plane of the panels fdl and 32, and to, provide for interlocking` of the construction elements 22 and 24 against relative rotation, each of the construction elements 22 and 24 is provided with a main web 6l? and 62, respectively, which overlie and interiit with each other and which extend between the adjacent spaced apart ends of the panels 3d and 32 to separate the panel receiving openings 26 and 28. The main web nii formed on the construction element 22 according to the present invention extends from the face portion 36 perpendicular thereto and parallel to and intermediate the end legs liti and 42 and includes a longitudinally extending tongue portion 64, FIG. 2, formed along the lateral axis at its end remote from the face portion 36 and is additionally provided with an L-shaped auxiliary web portion 6d having a short leg 66a integral with the .main web 6l) and having a long leg 6617 parallel to and spaced apart from the main web 6i) intermediate its length and forming a groove 68 with the main web 66 for the reception of an interlocking tongue formed on the web 62. The auxiliary web portion 66 is provided with a longitudinally extending bead 66C along its outer surface adjacent the intersection of the long and short legs 66b and 66a, and as illustrated in the present embodiment extending laterally of the construction element 22 toward the face portion 36 thereof. Moreover, the inner edge of the long leg 66h in the auxiliary web portion 66 is provided with a groove or recess 66d.

The main web of the construction element 24 is positioned when assembled adjacent to and overlying the web portion of the construction element 22 along the side thereof provided with the groove 63 and the main web 62 is provided with a tongue portion 70, FIG. l, received in the groove 68. Moreover, the construction element 24 is provided with a tongue or auxiliary web 72 extending from its face portion 38 parallel to and spaced apart from the main web 62 along the side thereof overlaid by the web 6i) of the construction element 22 and forming a groove 74 with the main web 62 which receives the tongue 64 of the main web 6i). In this manner, the tongue 64 of the construction element 22 is received within the groove 74 formed in the construction elernent 24 and the tongue 70 of the construction element 24 is received within the groove 68 formed in the construction element 22 so that the construction elements 22 and 24 are thereby restrained from relative rotation whether or not panels 30 or 32 are in place in the panel receiving openings 26 and 28.

In order to secure the construction elements 22 and 24 laterally together thereby to prevent the construction elements 22 and 24 from separating, the clip 34 is provided. The clip 34 is punched or otherwise formed from a strip of spring material and includes a main body portion having a plurality of aligned generally U-shaped end portions 82 along one lateral edge and having an inclined tip portion 84 along the other lateral edge. A wedge or detent 86 is struck or embossed out of the main body portion intermediate its portions 82 and 84.

To interlock the clip 34 and construction element 24, a second auxiliary web 88 is provided on the construction element 24 extending angularly from the face portion 38 and on the side of the main web 62 remote from the iirst auxiliary web 72. The main Web 62 of the construction element 24 is additionally provided with a longitudinally extending ridge or wedge-shaped dog portion 90 intermediate its length on the side thereof remote from the yfirst auxiliary web 72 and facing toward the auxiliary web 8S. The U-shaped portions 82 of the clip 34 are hooked around the head 66e,

,in the L-shaped web 66, and the tip portion 84 of the clip 34 engages the surface of the auxiliary web 88.

To interlock the clip 34 and construction element 22, there is struck out from the main body portion of the clip 34 a pair of ears 92 extending normal thereto prior to the assembly of the clip 34 with the construction element 22 and positioned intermediate the wedge `86 and the U-shaped portions 32. To assemble the clip 34 with the construction element 24, the portions 82 of the clip 34 are positioned around the bead 66e and the ears 92 extending adjacent the free edge of the long leg -66b of the web 66. The end of the ears 92 may then be deformed to t in the recess 66d as illustrated at 92a iu FIG. l and the clip 34 and construction element 24 secured in assembled relation whether or not the mating construction element 24 is in place.

It Will be seen that the framing member 20 provides an arrangement which is geometrically stable even though one or both of the panels 3d and 32 are missing therefrom. Moreover, the construction elements 22 'and 24 are readily assembled by a straight lateral relative movement of the construction elements 22 and 24 resulting in a maximum utilization of Square cuts in the joinery, simplification of a reglazing job, and providing for either pre-installed gaskets 54 or the rolling in of the gaskets after assembly of the construction elements 22 and 24 with the panels as more fully described in the aforementioned copending application. The construction elements 22 and 24 are held against relative rotation by the tongues and grooves formed in their webs and are held rigidly against lateral separation by the clips 34. The clips 34 carry the operating loads predominantly in direct stresses, being subjected to significant bending stresses only during the snap-in assembly of the construction elements 22 and 24. The clips 34 are positively retained by the bead 66C and the groove 66d and the clips 34 may readily be replaced lin the wall section ,without removal of the panels 30 and 32. Moreover, the clips 34 formed from a section of sheet material may be quickly and economically manufactured thus providing an economical framing member 2t?. The framing members 20 are readily compatible with many other commonly used systems of store fronts and building exterior components and may be economically cut to size and assembled in the eld, thereby adapting the framing member 20 to small jobs as Well as to larger jobs and avoiding the necessity of elaborate lfield measurements and assembly drawings prior to assembly.

In order that the framing member 20` be adapted to a horizontal position as well as a vertical position, the Imain web of the construction element 22 is provided with a drainage channel 94 by the addition of a longitudinally extending bead 96 just inwardly from the end of the web 72. The framing member 20 is thereby adapted to be used as a horizontal mullion as Well as a vertical mullion.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An integral extruded construction element of generally U-shaped cross section comprising a'face portion; a pair of end legs extending generally perpendicular to said face portion from the edges thereof; a main web portion perpendicular to the face portion intermediate said end legs and extending in the same direction as said end legs, the end of said main web portion remote from said face portion forming a laterally extending tongue; an L-shaped auxiliary web portion having a short leg and a long leg, said short leg being formed integral with and generally perpendicular to said main web and said long leg extending outwardly therefrom parallel to and spaced apart from said main web intermediate the length of said main web and forming a tongue receiving groove therewith, said auxiliary web portion having a bead along its outer surface adjacent the intersection of said long and short legs extending generally parallel to said main web portion in an opposite direction from said long leg and said long leg being provided with a groove along its inner edge; longitudinal bead means on said main web portion spaced adjacent said tongue on the side of said main web portion remote from said auxiliary web portion; and an angle-shaped member integrally formed with each of said end legs having one leg joining a respective one of said end legs inwardly from the ends thereof and generally perpendicular thereto, and having its other leg spaced apart and parallel to the associated end leg, the ends of said other legs and said end legs being generally aligned in a transverse plane with respect to said construction element, and confronting beads on the inner edge of each of said other legs and said end legs to form gasket retaining means.

2. An integral extruded construction element comprising a face portion; a pair of end legs extending generally perpendicular to said face portion from the edges thereof; a main web portion perpendicular to the face portion intermediate said end legs and extending in the same direction as said end legs, the end or said main web portion remote from said face portion forming a laterally extending tongue; an L-shaped auxiliary web portion having a short leg and a long leg, said short leg being formed integral with and generally perpendicular to said main web and said long leg extending outwardly therefrom parallel to and spaced apart from said main web intermediate the length of said main web and forming a tongue receiving groove therewith; longitudinal bead means on said main web portion spaced adjacent said tongue on the side of said main web portion remote from said auxiliary web portion; and an angle-shaped member integrally formed with each of said end legs having one leg joining a respective one of said end legs inwardly from the ends thereof and generally perpendicular thereto, and having its other leg spaced apart and parallel to the associated end leg, the ends of said other legs and said end legs being generally aligned in a transverse plane with respect to said construction element, and confronting beads on the inner edge of each of said other legs and said end legs to form gasket retaining means.

3. An integral extruded construction element of generally U-shaped cross section comprising a face portion; a pair of end legs extending generally perpendicular to said face portieri from the edges thereof; a main web portion perpendicular to the face portion intermediate said end legs and extending in the same direction as said end legs, the end of said main web portion remote from said face portion forming a laterally extending tongue; an auxiliary web portion having one leg formed integral with and generally perpendicular to said main web and another leg extending outwardly from said iirst leg parallel to and spaced apart from said rnain web intermediate the length or" said main web and forming a tongue receiving groove therewith, said auxiliary web portion having a bead along its outer surface adjacent the intersection of said legs; and seal retaining means formed at the edges of said end legs.

4. An integral extruded construction element of generally U-shaped cross section comprising a face portion; end leg means extending generally perpendicular to said face portion; a main web portion perpendicular to the tace portion extending in the saine direction as said end leg means, the end of said main web portion remote from said face portion forming a laterally extending tongue; an auxiliary web portion having one leg formed integral with and generally perpendicular to said main web and another leg extending outwardly therefrom parallel to and spaced apart from said :nain web intermediate the length of said main web and forming a tongue receiving groove therewith, said auxiliary web portion having a bead along its outer surface adjacent the intersection of said legs; and an angle-shaped member integrally formed with said end leg, means having one leg joining said end leg means inwardly from the end thereof and generally perpendicular thereto, and havinfr its other leg spaced apart and parallel to the associated end leg means, the ends of said other leg and said end leg means being generally aligned in a transverse plane with respect to said construction element, and confronting beads on the inner edge of each of said other leg and said end leg means to torni gasket retaining means.

5. A construction element comprising a face portion; seal retaining means extending from the edges of said face portion; a main web portion perpendicular to the face portion intermediate said end legs and extending in the same direction as said seal retaining means, the end of said main web portion remote from said face portion forming a laterally extending tongue; and au L.-shaped auxiliary web portion having a short leg and a long leg, said short leg being formed integral with and generally perpendicular to said main web and said long leg extending outwardly therefrom parallel to and spaced apart from said main web intermediate the length of said main web and forming a tongue receiving groove therewith.

6. A construction element as set forth in claim 5 above and additionally including longitudinal bead means on said main web portion spaced adjacent said tongue on the side of said main web portion rernote from said auxilr iary web portion forming a drainage channel in said main Designing With Aluminum Extrusions, Reynolds Metals Company, 1953 (Fiv. 3, page 4). 

5. A CONSTRUCTION ELEMENT COMPRISING A FACE PORTION; SEAL RETAINING MEANS EXTENDING FROM THE EDGES OF SAID FACE PORTION; A MAIN WEB PORTION PERPENDICULAR TO THE FACE PORTION INTERMEDIATE SAID END LEGS AND EXTENDING IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS SAID SEAL RETAINING MEANS, THE END OF SAID MAIN WEB PORTION REMOTE FROM SAID FACE PORTION FORMING A LATERALLY EXTENDING TONGUE; AND AN L-SHAPED AUXILIARY WEB PORTION HAVING A SHORT LEG AND A LONG LEG, SAID SHORT LEG BEING FORMED INTEGRAL WITH AND GENERALLY 